Maroma by Moonlight

[Grouser]

I have read that in the summer there is a pilgrimage from Canillas de Acetuno up the old snow transporters path to the summit of Maroma by the light of the full moon. Does anyone know if this still takes place and if so when it will happen in 2006?

[brenda]

Tourist office at Velez Malaga Town Hall should have details Grouser. Wonderful full moon rose over maroma tonight - whole of Lake Vinuela currently moonlit and looks stunning!

[Fletch]

Wow, that sounds so much fun, unless of course clouds set in!!! Will let you know if I hear of any details `cos I`m sure I would like to try it. (Day or night)

[Grouser]

How lucky you are to be there Brenda. Clear here too but very cold and frosty at night and Badgers have been digging up the lawn. I didn't make it up Maroma last visit, my companions thought I was crazy, but I'm all set for next visit and the moonlit trip in the summer if I can coincide with it. See you there Fletch

[Grouser]

We finally made it up Maroma, having been driven back by a blizzard about an hour from the top, in Feb. We took the route up from Canillas on the old Ice men trail and it took nine hours there and back with rests and Ibex watching. The male Ibex were head butting each other in typical male testosterone fueled style. The path is a long but mainly gentle incline and the hill walking was just about as good as it gets

[Shukran]

Beautiful pictures Grouser.

[Fletch]

Yes I agree, superb pictures.
When did you go up, and did you go from Canillas de Aceituno or Albaida?

(Is there a bar at the top???)

[Grouser]

Went up from Canillas de Acetuno. The path is at the top of the village, at the start of the national park, where there is a map. It is well defined and waymarked until the last hour where it turns sharp right and gets above the tree line. As the vegetation thins out it is progressively more difficult to follow. No problem going up, or in clear weather, but the cloud does come in from nowhere so a keen eye for landmarks and a compass are essential. We went up on Good Friday and the clouds rolled in, just as we started to come down, but cleared again an hour or so later.
As for the bar, if only.

[gavilan]

did you actually find/see the old ice house?

[Grouser]

Only from a distance. We saw it on the way down, as the clouds were rolling in, and figured out what it was, but as we were already below it, just didn't have the inclination or energy to walk back up